OSCE Mission in Serbia: The Safety of Protesters and Journalists is Essential for the Rule of Law
The mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Serbia announced today that it is closely monitoring the escalation of violence in the days following the protests in Belgrade on June 28, including police actions, and emphasized that the safety of demonstrators, bystanders, and journalists is essential for the rule of law and democracy.
The Constitution of Serbia, as well as the international obligations Serbia has undertaken as a member of the OSCE, protect the freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention, and the safety of journalists, stated the OSCE Mission in Serbia in a statement published on X.
"The safety of demonstrators, passersby, and journalists, including their freedom to report without interference, is not only a prerequisite but essential for the rule of law and democracy," the statement reads.
The Mission also pointed out that access to legal guarantees, including timely communication with the families and legal representatives of detainees and access to medical care, is necessary to uphold the rule of law.
"The police use of force should only be an exception and always in accordance with the principles of necessity and proportionality, with full respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights," the Mission added.
The Mission states that it continues its engagement with institutions and civil society in Serbia to protect citizens' rights and ensure full respect for the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and human rights.
In Belgrade today is the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Jan Bratu, who held separate discussions with representatives from the television stations N1 and Kurir and three non-governmental organizations – the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, and Civic Initiatives.
Following these meetings, Bratu emphasized the importance of transparent and equal application of the law in the process of selecting members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM). He previously stated that he had an important conversation with representatives of the N1 television regarding the serious situation concerning the safety of journalists and media freedom in Serbia.
Source: Beta
